These extraordinary images in the World Cup city of Doha show the shocking sight of a lion cub being forced to live on a balcony.
Several distraught neighbours filmed videos and sent them to animal rights organisations to show the lion’s tragic existence.
At one stage someone threw down some raw meat as the cub appeared so hungry but it became stuck on a roof.
Activists passed the footage to the Mirror and they begged us to publish it to: “Show what really happens in Qatar to some animals.”
Earlier in the tournament an England fan was famously pictured playing with lion cubs at a sheikh’s private zoo.
But this lion was living on a balcony in the Pearl neighbourhood – one of the most expensive residential suburbs of Doha.
Dozens of World Cup fans have rented apartments in the same complex.
On the outside of the building is a huge picture of Manchester City and Belgium star Kevin de Bruyne.
There are St George’s flags alongside those from the nations of France, Brazil and Serbia flying from the balconies close to where the lion lived.
Originally one concerned observer started to take videos from his apartment of what he thought was a cat.
He said he took them because he thought it was cruel that a cat was forced to live outside for so many hours of the day.
But as the cat grew and grew he suddenly realised it was actually a lion cub.
A Qatari vet analysed the footage obtained by the Mirror and estimated that the lion was three months old.
It’s believed the cub was finally moved last week - several days after the World Cup started.
The lion can be seen at the patio windows of a townhouse on the Pearl - an artificial island which is home to 28,000 wealthy residents Close by is the exclusive Hilton Hotel.
One animal rights campaigner, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals from the Qatari authorities said: “It’s shocking.
“But it’s not that unusual.
“We have had many reports of young lions and cheetahs being kept in apartments on Pearl.
“We’ve heard of this happening before.”
He added: “We are hosting the World Cup and people are keeping lions on their apartment balconies.
“What sort of society is this?”
The campaigner was given the footage by someone staying in an adjacent block.
In it the cub is seen trying to get in through patio doors.
And it climbs on cushions next to potted plants.
“He couldn’t believe what she was seeing and wanted the world’s media to know what’s happening,” he said.
It’s understood that the owner of the townhouse apartment had not been living there.
It’s understood a maid fed the lion on a daily basis but it lived permanently outside for several weeks.
Complaints were made to the apartment block owners and they then insisted the tenant and the lion cub was moved.
Despite inquiries by the Mirror it is unclear where the animal is now.
The campaigner said: “There are many big cats living in Qatar.
“Several wealthy sheikhs have their own collections and, to be fair, they are generally looked after well.
“But this cub has been left in appalling conditions.
“We approached various charities for help to re-house the lion but nothing was forthcoming.
“We understand it was moved last week a few days into the World Cup.”
There have been controversies over lions in Qatar for years.
A fully grown male lion was found living on a balcony.
Another was found inside a house with an electric collar around its neck.
And another lion escaped from a residence and was found running down a motorway.
Sarah Khalaf, senior property co-ordinator for apartment owners Al Shareef Holding said: “There was a lion cub kept on the balcony of a townhouse.
“As soon as we were made aware of it the tenant was asked to leave and remove the lion cub as soon as possible.
“We have very strict rules here on this.
“We acted quickly as soon as other residents told us about the cub, which was very small, on the balcony”
Earlier in the tournament people around the world were stunned when an England fan was taken to see lions in a sheikh’s private zoo after the 6-2 win over Iran.
Alex Sullivan bumped into a member of the Emir of Qatar’s royal family while visiting a supermarket ‘to find some beers’ during his first night in the country.
His story showed just how common ownership of big cats is in Qatar,
Alex said: “They took us for a drive in the Lamborghini. I filmed that and also played with a lion cub.
“He had his own personal zoo with the lion cub, various birds of prey and some monkeys.
“He showed us that he had lions and everything.”
Qatari law allows people to keep wild animals but they have to be kept in the correct conditions.
